The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1887-05-07
NATURE IN RUINS.
An Unexpiored Region in the Wonderland
of the Far West.

An CntAplOFcu ANSkfOnl ln tue w
of the Far West.
There is one part Of the United
States Of which but little is known,
although it is not far removed from To-
calities which have been settled for a
long time. This undiscovered country
lies near our own doors. 1t borders
upon our own State, and yet Colorado
people are as rule. as ignorant of it
rs are the inhabitants of the East.
The country To which we refer is
that strange region deeply cut with
canyons. and. by repute. dry and bar
rem. which constitutes the northeastern
part of Arizona and the southeastern
part of Utah A few cattlemen have
been in part of that portion of the
country lying within the boundaries
of Utah. but after going one hundred
miles west of the Colorado or the New
Mexico line it becomes so strange
that we know the country only BY
rumor. This is particularly true of the
part included within the boundaries
of Arizona. Indians and canyons have
combined to keep the white man out
The first drive him back. and the
second would impede his progress into
this strange region.
The great Colorado river of the West
flows through canyons made famous
by the Government report of the ex-
plorations conducted by Major Powell.
At some points the cliffs rise not per-
pendieularly. but in benches. to the
height of more than mile above the
river. A mile on level ground ap-
pears to be but short distance. But
when we think of sitting near the
edge of cliff and looking down into a
narrow canyon. not for a mile only,
but for more than 600 feet, the very
thought itself assumes the shape
of horror. But this is what
may be done nj the Grand
canon Of the Colorado river. The de-
scent IS not sheer, straight down, but
it is sufficiently near the perpendicular
to enable one who viii dare approach
the dizzy summit of the cliff to see the
narrow bani of silver which is the
foaming river. as it appears from the
summit Of the gorge.
Into this mighty. yawning canon the
San Juan and the Little Colorado flow.
They. too. have eanols but little less
/ fearful than that of the chief stream,
and it is these and similar chasms
which impede the exploration of the
country. Besides. il is said To be a
desert region. and that the immigrant
would find but little there to reward
him for the pain and the toll of forcing
/ his way into it. But rumors indicate
that whatever may be IFS condition now
it was once inhabited. Stories come
Of the Iii scoyery Of immense and won
derful ruins scattered over the plains oI
concealed in the canyons We know oi
the ruins in the Plancos canyon. of the,
/ if possible, more wonderful ruins in the
/ Chaeo canyon of New Mexico, but il
reports be true the grandest of all the
ruins left by the original inhabitants oi
tAese mountains are 10 be found in the
unknown RECON which we have de,
scribed.
Whoever may be seeking adventure
and who has the requisite time anC
money, may find a field in tn,
canyon country which lies in North
eastern Arizona, between the Rio Sar
Juan and the Little Colorado. Whether
he would find any ruins of man wOrl
we do not know. but we are sure tina
the country itself would present the ap
pearance of nature in ruins.-Denrei
/ (Coi J Republican.